Herb Pragnell receives Lieutenant Governor's Ontario Heritage Award
Posted Feb 25, 2010 By Tara Gesner
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During the Feb. 16 town council meeting, Herb Pragnell receives the 2009 Lieutenant Governor's Ontario Heritage Award for Lifetime Achievement from Mississippi Mills Mayor Al Lunney.
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EMC News - Mississippi Mills resident Herb Pragnell, a founding member of the Mississippi Valley Textile Museum, is among 19 individuals to receive the 2009 Lieutenant Governor's Ontario Heritage Award for Lifetime Achievement.
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Herb Pragnell is presented with the 2009 Lieutenant Governor's Ontario Heritage Award for Lifetime Achievement at the North Lanark Historical Society's annual dinner last Friday, Feb. 19. The Almonte resident is a founding member of the Mississippi Valley Textile Museum.
The prestigious award recognizes individuals for their outstanding volunteer contributions to conserving community heritage over a period of 25 years or more.
Pragnell has been involved in community and heritage preservation in Almonte since 1959, when he came to 'The Friendly Town' with his wife Helen and their children. They arrived from Montreal.
Upon hearing of his recognition, Pragnell said he was "honoured."
"It was a bit of a surprise," he said. "My good friend Gerry Wheatley received the same award last year and I didn't think the town would nominate another person so soon."
Still, Pragnell said that he really appreciates the efforts of those individuals (members of the town's Heritage Committee) who put forth his name for consideration.
The awards were presented last Friday - Feb. 19, at Queen's Park in Toronto.
Unfortunately, Pragnell was unable to attend the ceremony. However, he did receive his plaque and pin during the Feb. 16 Mississippi Mills town council meeting.
"I was not able to attend the awards ceremony in Toronto, on the other hand, the award is really a town award, so in some respects it was very fitting that I received it here," he said.
In 1985, Pragnell, Wheatley, John Dunn, Stan Morton and Jack Boyes were instrumental in the founding of the Mississippi Valley Textile Museum (MVTM), helping to preserve and share the heritage of the textile industry with future generations. MVTM is located in the Rosamond Woollen Mill, a National Historic Site, and through the years Pragnell has served the museum in a variety of officer roles.
An engineer, he served in World War II, and as a Legion member, he participated in the creation of the tree-lined Veterans' Walkway, which commemorates the community's war veterans.
"It has been a pleasure to get to know Herb over the past years since I became mayor, and to always know that if I wanted to know anything about Almonte, a phone call to Herb would get the info and probably a lot more!" said Mississippi Mills Mayor Al Lunney. "His dedication to our written and built heritage has made this community a better place to live. I will never drive by the veterans' walkway without remembering his comment to me -'You really should do something about that park and honour our vets'. A very deserving award!"
In addition, Pragnell served on the Local Architecture Conservation Advisory Committee - now the Heritage Committee, which was instrumental in the historic designation of the Victoria Woollen Mill (1862), Rosamond Woollen Mill (1866-67), Fuller Post Office (1890-91), as well as many of the other historic buildings in Almonte.
In 1967, as a member of the Almonte Lions Club, Pragnell and a committee of others created two scholarships - the prestigious Robert Tait McKenzie Scholarship, awarded annually to one male and one female student of Almonte and District High School. The award carries with it a $1,000 scholarship and a miniature bronze replica of the 'Joy of Effort' medallion - one of McKenzie's well known sculptures, which graces the Olympic Stadium in Stockholm, Sweden. Students are selected based on the principles for which McKenzie stood: academic achievement, athletic ability and community involvement and service. Pragnell has served on the scholarship committee for 43 years.
For 10 years he served the residents in the Town of Almonte as a councillor and deputy reeve, and sat around the Lanark County Council table for two years.
In addition, Pragnell has been active with the North Lanark Historical Society - Appleton Museum. He led the museum committee to create a monument remembering the Dec. 27, 1942 train wreck in Almonte where 37 lives were lost.
He has passed along his historic knowledge to area residents by writing articles in local newspapers, and he is presently collaborating with others, including Wheatley, on a booklet about Almonte's historical past.
Speaking about Pragnell's award, Wheatley told the EMC that he is absolutely "thrilled" for his long-time friend.
"Herb has made a tremendous contribution to our town, and not just through heritage," he said. "When I won last year, I remember saying it should have been Herb. He and I have been team members for over 30 years, but he's always the leader, the fellow with the ideas."
In 2006, another Mississippi Mills resident, Marilyn Snedden won the Lieutenant Governor's Ontario Heritage Award for Lifetime Achievement.
"That's three of us now," chuckled Wheatley.
According to Michael Rikley-Lancaster, curator of the MVTM, Pragnell is currently the chair of the museum's Building Restoration Committee and has been a driving force for the preservation of the building.
"Mr. Pragnell along with the other founders of the museum have preserved our heritage by saving this building and making it a great museum and National Historic Site and landmark," he said. "Mr. Pragnell is very passionate about the preservation of our local heritage. I truly enjoy working with Herb."
Pragnell recently edited a book called 'Our Past Is Looming: Stories of Almonte's Textile History' that is being published by the MVTM and will be available as part of their 25th anniversary.
AWARDS' HISTORY
The Honourable James K. Bartleman, former Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, in partnership with the Ontario Heritage Trust, established the Lieutenant Governor's Ontario Heritage Awards in 2007. They are dedicated to identifying, preserving, protecting and promoting Ontario's heritage.
"Preserving our heritage enriches the quality of life for Ontarians and makes a valuable contribution to our communities," said David C. Onley, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario. These award recipients have made outstanding achievements to conserve Ontario's heritage and I'm pleased to recognize their accomplishments."
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